MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - Delays and cancellations have continued at airports all around the United States due to the ‘bomb cyclone‘ forecasters have talked about all week long, and South Florida airports have been no exception.
7News cameras on Friday afternoon showed the holiday hustle in full effect at Miami International Airport, as travelers flying out on the night before Christmas Eve tried to reach their destinations in time.
“We’re hoping that we can make it home for Christmas,” said traveler Rita Jones. “I have three kids. They’re all kind of spread around, but hopefully we can get together.”
Long lines persisted at MIA’s Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, as travelers heeding the warnings from officials planned ahead and showed up early for their flights.
Aaron and his family are leaving the beach and heading out west.
“I had to have all the bags packed last night, multiple carry-on, checked bags,” said Aaron. “I had to order the Uber in advance. Gotta be careful, there may be a lot of traffic going on, delays, going through security. It’s always unpredictable in Miami.”
Another passenger, Mia Meyer, was at the airport with her friend, Gracie Hucks.
“The check-in outside seems to be faster,” said Hucks. “Then we had to come to Starbucks.”
Meyer said she had to arrive at the airport early to catch her flight.
“We woke up at like 5′ o clock in the morning, my mom got lost in traffic, and we just tried to come here as fast as we could,” said Meyer.
The lines shortened but remained steady after day turned into night, as travelers expressed their excitement about their trips.
“I look forward to it, coming to stay with my grandparents,” said traveler Katie Heessels.
“We expected a lot of lines at the airport, so we arrived extra early, as opposed to us Cubans that usually arrive very late,” said traveler Suzie Lopez.
Traveler Thomas May is trading in Christmas lights for neon lights.
“Las Vegas, man. Where else for Christmas?” he said.
But on Friday night, May said, he doesn’t feel like he’s hit the jackpot.
“We actually came down here because our flight got canceled twice,” he said.
May said his flight out of Fort Myers got canceled, so he drove east and is betting on MIA.
“I just purchased new tickets to get out of here, you know?” he said.
According to the flight tracking site FlightAware.com, air travel was off to a rough start for thousands of holiday travelers on Friday morning.
That snowstorm that has taken over most of the country has had major impacts on Friday’s flights, with over 5,200 cancellations nationwide. Just over 2,900 of those were international flights.
As of Friday night, MIA has reported 34 cancellations and dozens of delays.
Over at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, officials reported 44 cancellations and more than 100 delays.
“It’s a pain, ’cause there’s a lot of people, and the process is slow,” said traveler Kourosh Soleimanipak.
“It’s kind of annoying, but you deal with it,” said traveler Koda Allred.
The winter storm, meanwhile, has proven much more devastating. Several deaths have been reported due to the arctic blast, which is bringing frigid temperatures and blizzard-like conditions across the U.S. The wind is also posing a threat.
According to AAA, this year is expected to be the third busiest year for holiday travel since the year 2000, with nearly 7.2 million Americans expected to fly.
As travelers head home for the holidays, they’re hoping for the best when they get there.
“The most thing that we’re dreading is, it’s 11 degrees in Dallas,” said Jones. “We do not want to get stuck in the airport.”
Travelers still planning to fly out Friday are urged to keep a close eye on their flights, as changes are still very possible. They are advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours before domestic flights and three and a half hours before international flights.
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